Kindergartners Write Every Day!

Teaching Practice:
Kindergartners Write Every Day!

INTRODUCTION

I am a kindergarten teacher and literacy coach at Park Hill School of International Studies in Denver, Colorado. I earned my National Board Certification in Early Childhood/Generalist Certificate Area in 2000.

My school is fifteen minutes from the downtown and is in one of Denver’s oldest integrated neighborhoods. This is exemplified by the makeup of my kindergarten class with 45% Euro-American, 36% African-American, and 19 % Hispanic-American. The Denver Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry are within walking distance of our school, providing wonderful educational resources.

I live in the Park Hill neighborhood. My family moved here in 1966 and my youngest sister went to fifth and sixth grade at Park Hill. When I moved back to the neighborhood in the mid-eighties, my two sons also attended Park Hill. Since I live five blocks from my school, I enjoy the unique sense of living in a small community within a large urban setting.

Introduction

The Lesson

Professional Standards

Content Standards

Assessment

Student Work

Reflections

Resources

Step Guides

Technology

Candidate Support

Author: Joy Warner, NBCT
School: Park Hill School of international Studies
Organization: Denver Public Schools

Credits: Kathy Adams, my principal, for being a true instructional leader

Amy Mills, my kindergarten teammate, for her unlimited encouragement

Karen Herr, Jefferson County Public Schools, for her wonderful insights and practices with kindergartners

Maureen Porter, my valued teaching colleague, for her constant support and inspiration

Terry Rodriquez, my teacher mentor, for getting me started teaching authentic literacy in 1986

Roxanne Wilderman, my district support leader, for challenging my understandings and eliciting new practices

Kevin Gallagher, technology teacher, for helping me implement ideas in the computer lab,

and Richard Kruch, my beloved husband, for tireless patience and boundless support

Lynne Wyly,
Digital Edge Project Manager,
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Laura Jones
Teacher in Residence

Questions or comments?

Email: ljones@nbpts.org